(Minghui.org) Mr. Li Xiaoxian from Tangshan City, Hebei Province was again arrested on April 1, 2016. His home was ransacked. He is currently detained in Tangshan City No.1 Detention Center.
Mass Arrests in April 2016
The arrest was carried out by officers from Tangshan City Police Department, the Xinlu Police Station and Xinfan Police Station. They took away his Falun Gong books, a portrait of Falun Gong’s founder, and personal items including a computer, printer, and motorcycle.
Mr. Li’s arrest was only one of many. The International Horticultural Expo was held in Tangshan City in April. The Tangshan Police Department launched a mass-arrest campaign against local Falun Gong practitioners with the excuse of keeping the Expo safe. Under the direction of Tangshan City Police Department and 610 Office, over 100 officers from police departments across the city were dispatched to arrest practitioners. At least 36 Falun Gong practitioners were arrested, and their families were harassed. Some practitioners were forced into homelessness in order to avoid further persecution.
Prior Arrests
Mr. Li has been repeatedly persecuted for his belief in Falun Gong. On July 20, 1999, the day the persecution of Falun Gong was launched, Mr. Li's home was raided by six local policemen. They illegally confiscated his Falun Gong books, exercise music tapes, a portrait of Falun Gong’s Teacher and other materials. Mr. Li and several other Falun Gong practitioners at Fangezhuang Coal Mine of Kailuan Coal Company were held in a big room. Deprived of sleep, they were forced to watch videos slandering Falun Gong nonstop for 24 hours.
Mr. Li was taken to the police station on the morning of July 23, 1999. Because he refused to give up Falun Gong, he was taken to his company and not allowed to go home for several days. He then was followed by five police officers until the first half of 2000. They followed him at work during the day and monitored him at his home at night.
Starting in June 2000, he was not allowed to go home after work for six weeks. In eight-hour shifts, day and night, two people watched him. He was not allowed to contact anyone. In September 2000, he was fined 2,000 yuan and not allowed to go home after work for another month. A month later he was fined 3,000 yuan, and his salary was lowered. He was also not allowed to receive any bonus for a half year. He was removed from his post but still had to work all day. After he was allowed home in October, they detained him in his workplace until the end of August 2001.
And More Arrests
On the morning of September 11, 2006, approximately six plainclothes policemen from the Guye District Police Department again raided Mr. Li’s home. They confiscated over 30 Falun Gong books, a desktop computer, a new TV, other electronic equipment, nine copies of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, 7,000 yuan, and his motorcycle. They arrested both Mr. Li and his wife. His wife was detained for 15 days. Mr Li was moved several times for further interrogation. He was not allowed to sleep during that period. He was released 20 days later.
Mr. Li was arrested again in February 2007, and was released six days later. During a four-month period around the 2008 Olympic Games in China, Mr. Li's home was monitored by three persons around the clock.
From the start of the persecution of Falun Gong, Mr. Li was not allowed to take any weekend or any annual paid leave. He had to work over 600 weekend days and 200 vacation days without pay until he retired in 2012.
Background
Mr. Li started to practice Falun Gong in April 1996. Mr. Li's wife was in poor heath. Every winter she suffered from asthma and bronchitis. It took nearly a month of injections to stop the symptoms. By practicing Falun Gong, she become healthy. She brought home the primary text of Falun Gong, Zhuan Falun. Mr. Li finished reading it in one night. He was amazed by the profound principles. He started to practice immediately.
Mr. Li has benefited a lot from the practice. He became more considerate, tolerant and sincere. His health improved too. His stomach ailment was cured, and he recovered from hearing loss. His bad temper left him, and he was happy. He learned to think of others first and treated others kindly. Many colleagues said he was a nice person and that he took money and fame lightly. He treated others fairly and did not accept any gifts or special treatment. He was thought of well by his boss, colleagues and customers.
